The 5 Tips for Dressing in Your 40s

1. Demand The Perfect Fit

This is a time when you can and should be aware of what to accentuate—and what not to. If you’re unsure how to dress for your body (whether it’s changed since high school or not), take some time to do that. Then, wear what looks and feels great. Seek out pieces that fit beautifully and when in doubt, splurge on a great tailor. Clothes always look best when they fit you perfectly.

2. Continue To Take Risks

Whether you’re happy in your comfort zone or doing a complete style overhaul, take some risks. We don’t mean dive head first into every trend you see, but it’s okay to shake things up a bit. Owning your style, means exploration! So, explore new colors, prints or even try on a bodycon dress for a night out. Give yourself permission to push the boundaries of what you think you should wear.

3. Look For Inspiration

If you do find that you’re stuck in a rut or aren’t feeling quite like yourself in your clothes, go online, flip through magazines, look at women you admire on the street or at work, and then start to emulate their style. Eventually, you’ll hit a sweet spot where you’ll just be dressing for you.

4. Own Your Sense Of Self

There’s nothing better than self-confidence and a daily affirmation of, “I am amazing.” In fact, those are the only words you need to create the reality and style that best suits you. When you walk into a room, people see you first. Not your outfit. So, focus on that inner brightness and we guarantee your style will follow.

5. Don’t Be Afraid To Evolve

Just like you, your style will continue to evolve. Even if you’ve found your stride, think of dressing yourself everyday as not only an expression of who you are, your mood, your vibe, but also something that can constantly be tweaked, improved or updated.

5 Items You Should Buy In Your 40s

A Statement Jacket

Whether it’s a black leather jacket, a classic trench or something cropped and tailored like a white (or navy) blazer, optimize your outerwear in a statement jacket that fits you like a glove. The keyword here is: timeless.

An On-Trend Shoe

Accessorizing is the perfect way to evolve your style. If you just know that your comfort zone is within a certain parameter, try experimenting with shoes and handbags instead.

A Leather Handbag

Now is the time to up your accessories game (read above). And, you deserve a new purse. Consider a high-quality leather that can carry your essentials, but still transitions well from day to night. Another tip? Look for versatility—does it have multiple strap options like a top handle and convertible crossbody option? Sold.

A Little Black Dress

The LBD is the only piece in your wardrobe that gets its own acronym. Invest in a little (or long) black dress that you can wear to events like: weddings, family dinners, work events, and even impromptu nights on the town with your girlfriends.

The Perfect Jeans

There are so many new denim options out there that use mind-blowing technology to offer women the right fit, so you shouldn’t feel limited to old jeans, old stretch and old styles. Invest in taking the time (or asking your Stylist) for different denim silhouettes and don’t be afraid to try on new washes, rises and lengths, too.

Get Rid Of These Items Before Your 50s

Parting can be such sweet sorrow (Thank you, Shakespeare.), but in terms of closet clean-out, it should be the opposite. Here is a quick list of the things you should ditch before the next decade.

• Clothing that doesn’t fit: You know better than this!
• Flip flops: Ok, you can save them for the beach or a pedicure, but please don’t wear them on the street.
• Anything that reminds you of the X decade: Trends come and go, but unless you collect vintage as a hobby, ditch the duds that give you high school feels.
• Items you haven’t worn in over a year: See our Closet Cleanse for good measure.

Want to make your 40s even more fabulous? Take your style quiz and order a Fix. Ask your stylist for a jacket refresh, a new pair of well-fitting denim or the perfect LBD. Relax as you wait for your items to arrive. Keep what you like and send back the rest. Shipping and returns are always free and you’re never required to schedule more than one Fix at time. It’s that simple.